Windmill



NW. 22, 11938.. L c ALGEE 2,137,559

WINDMILL Original Filed July 16, 1955 Li/wwafllgee,

r V 0 I 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES WINDIVIILL;

Lucian C. Algee, Atlanta, Ga.

Application July 16,

1935, Serial No. 31,676

Renewed June 2, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in windmills and moreparticularly to the con struction and design of the wind-wheel per se.

The object of the invention is the provision of a wind-wheel involvingsimplicity and strength in its construction yet capable of efficientperformance at a nominal cost of production.

Another object is the production of a Windmill adapted to obtain thefull effect of all the wind blowing through the area defined by theouter circumference of the wheel.

Another object of the invention is to so design the wheel that the aircurrents or the wind are collected at the outer edge of the wheel wherethe greatest force is exerted and from there diverted along and throughthe wheel blades towards the middle of the wheel. At the same time, thewheel facing the air currents direct,

the center circle of air as described by the base of the hub cone is putto effective work and directed towards the periphery of the wheel.

A further object is to provide additional vanes on the inner face of thewheel rim, intermediate the main radiating vanes for intercepting andreceiving the air currents collected at the outer circumference of theWheel as a whole, whereby practically all of the air passing through thewheel is converted into useful work.

This rim just referred to is in the form of an annular band to which theextreme ends of the spokes or blades are secured and to the inner faceof this band, preferably between said spokes, are secured what might becalled booster blades or fins, which blades or fins, being mounted wherethe greatest pulling or power effect is had from the force of the wind,virtually doubles the capacity of the improved wheel over the ordinarywheel of a similar diameter.

Furthermore the entire construction produces a well balanced wheel withproperly distributed weight having increased rigidity and stability,thus tending to increased smoothness in action and a more regular flowof power.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofthe wheel mounted in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation; and

Figure 3 is a modification illustrating a slightly different form ofwheel rim.

Referring to the drawing in detail the improved wind-wheel comprises ahub I having mounted therein in any improved manner a series ofradiating spokes 2, the ends of the spokes being rigidly secured to anannular rim or band 3.

This annular band or rim 3 has an outwardly flared portion, and innormal working position this outward flare is in a direction facing thewind currents so that said air currents are directed inwardly toward thecenter of the wheel.

To accomplish this, the band 3 may be formed with a continuous flare asshown in Figure 3 or a flared portion 4 may be secured to a straight rimportion 5 as illustrated in Figure 2.

Positioned about the hub l is secured a conical member 6 provided withan annular straight base portion or band I, said base portion tending tosmooth out the wind currents and prevent loss of power usually caused bythe Wind escaping into the spoke and hub area.

Secured to the spokes 2 are a series of inclined vanes 8, of any desirednumber, the pitch or inclination of said vanes to be determined andvaried according to the greatest efficiency desired under workingconditions.

The inner ends of these vanes 8 are secured to the hub band I and theouter ends are mounted in the annular band or rim portion 3.

Mounted between the outer ends of the vanes 8 and carried by the rimportions 3 and 4 are booster blades or inwardly projecting inclined fins9, said fins being inclined in the same general direction as the vanes8, although the degree of inclination of the vanes and the fins. mightbe different and can also be varied in accordance with the desiredefliciency.

With this arrangement of annular band 3 the air is confined at the endsof the vanes 8 and fins 9 where it is held to perform its most effectivework at the extreme ends of said vanes or fins.

The inclined fins or blades 9 secured to the annular base 3 and flaredportion 4, inwardly direct the air collected at the outer area of thewheel rim, whereby the air is. compacted or confined by the combinedaction of the inner cone directing the an outwardly and the flared outerrim or band and inclined fins forcing the air inwardly and therebyincreasing the force and pressure of the air passing through theconfines of the wheel.

Any preferred means may be provided for transmitting power from thewind-wheel through the necessary gearing to the desired place of use.

For the purpose of illustration there is shown a standard or towerstructure It] provided with a rotatable head II in which the shaft l2keyed to the hub of the wind-wheel is properly journalled, the rotatablehead I I being provided with a wind vane for the obvious purpose ofmaintaining the wind-wheel in proper relation to the direction of thewind.

What I claim is:

1. In a windmill, the combination with a support, of a wind-wheelcomprising a hub, an annular band surrounding said hub, a cone shapedmember having a base of the same diameter as said hub band, mounted onsaid band, a series of inclined vanes radiating from the hub band andrigidly connected thereto, an annular band connecting the outer ends ofsaid vanes, an outwardly flared portion carried by said last mentionedannular band, and inwardly directed fins secured to both the saidannular band and out- Wardly flared portion intermediate the ends ofsaid inclined vanes.

2. In a windmill, the combination with a support, of a wind-wheelcomprising a hub, an annular band surrounding said hub and spacedtherefrom, a cone shaped member mounted on said hub band, a series ofinclined vanes radiating from said hub band, an annular band connectingthe outer ends of said vanes, the edge of said last mentioned annularband forward of said vanes being outwardly flared and inwardlyprojecting fins intermediate the inclined vanes rigidly secured to saidannular band and its flared portion.

, LUCIAN C. ALGEE.

